Territory



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. c FORRESTER. MACHINE FOR WASHING AND SEPARATING 0R GRADING GOAL.

No. 414,393. Patented Nov. 5, 1889.

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$5M By mum ATTORNEYS.

3- Sheets-Sheet 2.

{No Model.)

. P. G. FORRESTER. MACHINE FOR WASHING AND SEPARATING 0B. GRADING COAL.

No. 414,393. Patented Nov. 5, 1889.

INVENTOR- WITNESSES: MW 5% m aw By ATTORNEYS! N. PETERS. PhalvL'llMinphtn Wash-axiom D.C-

(N0 Modem G Sheets-Sheet 3.

P. O. FORRBSTER. MAGHINE PQR WASHING AND SEPARATING 0R GRADING GOAL.

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UNITED STATES ATENT Fries.

PETER C. FORRESTER, OF VILKESON, WASHINGTON TERRITORY- MACHINE FOR WASHING AND SEPARATING OR GRADING COAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 414,393, dated November 5, 1889.

Application filed July 13, 1889;

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PETER C. FORRESTER, of lVilkeson, in the county of Pierce and Territory of lVashington, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for "Washing and Separating or Grading Coal, which is also applicable to separate mineral ores from refuse matter, and of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in a class of coal or ore washing and separating machines in which water is forced through the coal or ore and grading or separating eifect-ed by the gravity of the material operated upon.

The object ofmy invention is to provide a compact, strong, and light machine for the purpose designated, which will be capable of regulation with regard to grading or separation of the material operated upon.

lVith these objects in View my invention conslsts in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved separator, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same in section, taken on the line a: as, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section in elevation, taken on the broken line y y. (See'Fig. 2.)

A represents the main chamber of the machine. This is preferably made of wood, and, as shown in Fig. 2, it is given the form of an inverted siphon, the outer Wall ct and inner wall I) being curved concentrically to provide a water-chamber with two short legs.

The leg portion A of the chamber A is of sufficient length vertically considered to afford a rectangular short receiver, in which a plunger B is fitted to reciprocate a limited distance, the bearing edges of the plunger having water-tight contact with the sides of the water-leg A.

As shown in Fig. 2, the plunger B is secured by bolts 0 to the transverse timbers B. The spacing-thimbles 19, being inserted be tween the connected parts, hold them separated, the bolts passing through the thimbles, as shown in dotted lines. Upon the under Serial No. 317,465. (No model.)

The reciprocation of the plunger B is pro- '6 5 duced by two pitnien I, which are loosely sef cured to the projecting ends of the guidebars G by the wrist-pins t, the pitinan ends being made changeable in position to engage the pins i near the ends of the bars G, and thus reducethe stroke of the plunger.

The lower ends of the pitinen I are pivoted to the crank-disks .E, that are mounted on and secured to the ends of the shaft E. Fast and loose pulleys E E are placed on this shaft, which is revolubly supported in proper boxes E and receives motion from the belt E, that engages a prime mover. (Not shown.)

At the side of the U-shaped chamber.A, which is opposite the plunger B, a horizontal screen-plate or diaphragm A is placed on top of the open leg of the chamber. The entire surface of the plate A is perforated at spaced intervals, these foraminations being of proper size to pass water freely through them and retain solid material placed above the plate. Above the diaphragm-plate A the transverse trough D is located. This is open on its upper side and has a guard-wall D on its side which is farthest removed from the center of the machine, a throat D being formed between the bottom of the trough and the diaphragm A At 01 the inclined wall (7. is attached, which is secured to each side wall of the machine, and in effect is a chute for the reception of waste material which is being ejected from the machine, as will be further explained. Between the inclined wall cl and the cross-trough D the conveyer-belt E is revolubly supported on the drums cf, as shown in Fig. 2. The series of spaced buckets u are secured upon the flexible belt E, and are of proper size to 3 to the feed-roller c.

elevate material brought into contact with them in a speedy manner. The upper and larger drum 6 is supported on a shaft 1;, which is journaled on the frame J at each end, and on one extremity of the shaft 1) the ratchetwheel e is mounted outside of the frame J. Upon the shaft r, near the ratchet-wheel e, the ratchet-bar e is loosely mounted, said bar having a pawl c pivoted near its upper end to permit the pawl to engage the teeth of the Wheel 6. The lower end of the ratchet-bar e is jointed to connecting-rod 0 which is pivoted at its opposite end to the depending limb c of a bell-crank at e The bell-crank just indicated is mounted on a transverse shaft, which affords journaled support at e A ratchet-wheel c and pawl 0 that are operated by the vibration of the bell-crank lever-arm c communicate periodical movement to the feed-roller. Motion is given to the bell-crank c by the short link .6 which is pivoted to the outer extremity of the bell-crank arm, and also to the guide-bar G on that side of the machine. The connection of parts just described will transmit a rotative motion to the feed-roller in unison with thereciprocation of the plunger B.

A hopper O is supported above the feedroller 0, having at its lower end a gate 71 that is operated by the pivoted lever i, the

free end of which lever is extended to afford a handle, whereby the gate may be elevated and coal or ore fed from the hopper upon'the feed-roller.

ater is conveyed to the machine through the pipe F, valve h, and inlet-opening at s. The valve-rod 9 extends forwardly from valve 71. toward the front end of the machine, a bracket-stand h supporting the rod, and a hand-wheel h affording means for adj ustment of the valve.

. A discharge-water valve '12 is located on the side Wall of the water-chamber A near the lowest pointin the same. A rod is upwardly extended and jointed at m to the horizontal lever is, which is pivoted to vibrate at 70', so that a depression of the forward end of this lever will open the valve-gate and lower the level of Water in the chamber A or entirely discharge it.

As previously intimated, the essential function of the machine under consideration is to wash and separate ungraded coal and discharge the coal through the trough D, while heavier waste is passed below this trough and taken up'by the traveling buckets of the elevator E until it reaches its top, where the coal is discharged and falls into the vertical receiver D through which it passes to a point of deposit.

In Fig. 1 there is shown in dotted lines the plan of the throat D through which passes the heavy waste. This throat is made shorter from 1 to 2 by the introduction of end walls than the entire length of the buckets of the elevator, so as to give to the elevator a carrying capacity in excess of the delivery of waste material through the throat D The manner of connecting the end a of the bellcrank lever 0 which moves the feed-roller c with the ratchet-gear of the elevator E, renders the feeding and elevating operations 00- operative. The progressive movement of the elevator E may be quickly arrested or resumed by tripping out of gear the pawl e The provision of means for arresting the travel of the elevator E and the relative contraction of the throat D with regard to the lifting capacity of the elevator E are impor-' tant features of my present invention.

In operating the machine the chamber A is partially filled with water. Coal is fed through the hopper 0 upon the roller 0, which by its rotary movement prevents clogging of the discharge-orifice of the hopper and also restricts the amount of material discharged, the latter-named function being effected by the adjustment of the feed-gate h, as well as the feed-roller. The coal fallsupon the perforated diaphragm A and the reciprocation of the plunger B causes a pulsating action of the water through the perforations of the diaphragm and also upon the body of material deposited thereon. The partial floatage of the coal or other material operated upon in the manner stated will, through the gravitation of the heavier portions, rearrange the mass, separating the lighter pieces therefrom. As the operation progresses the coal passes into the transverse trough D and is discharged at the side of the machine. The heavier waste by its accumulation is crowded through the throat D and raised by the buckets of the elevator E, as before stated.

It has been found in operating hydraulic separators of the type to which my invention belongs that there is an unequal action of the gravitating operation. In view of this fact I have provided a means for regulation of the discharge of the heavy or waste material, so that it may be kept at a proper height in the space above the diaphragm-plate A and the coal be regularly discharged through the spout D. The relative contraction of the throat D by providing end walls 1 2, which make it shorter than the elevator-buckets, assures that the latter will take 'up all the waste that is moved toward them. If itis found that there is too free a removal of the waste, so that the coal is also taken out with the waste, it is only necessary for the operator to throw the pawl of the ratchet-gear out of mesh, and by so doing arrest the motion of the elevator. As soon as there is such an accumulation of the waste as will cause a proper discharge of the coal through the trough D, the dog or pawl (3 should be thrown into mesh with the ratchetwheel 6', when the elevator e willagain commence the removal of the waste in an obvious manner. I V r Another feature of advantage embodied in my invention is the application of the motive power, which reciprocates the plunger and moves other parts of the machine at a point below the plunger, so that the depression of the plunger, which requires force to move, will be produced by a pulling movement of the pitmen I. The draft force thus exerted can be transmitted to the plunger bylighter pitman-rods than would serve to overcome the same resistance if these were used as pusher-bars instead of draft-bars.

In utilizing this machine to wash and separate mineral ores the operation is similar, with this exception that the waste material which is to be removed passes into and through the trough D, While the concentrates of mineral are taken up bythe elevator E, as in this case the waste is the lighter body.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a separator, the combination, with a water-chamber, a plunger which is adapted to reciprocate, and a feeding device, of a perforated diaphragm, a transverse discharge trough located above a discharge-throat, an elevator, and a device which causes the travel of the elevator and permits its arrest, substantially as set forth.

2. In a separator, the combination, with a water-chamber, a reciprocating plunger, and a material-feeding device which is adapted to move with the plunger, of a perforated dia-:

phragm, a transverse discharge-trough located above the diaphragm, an elevator, and a device which causes the travel of the elevator and permits its arrest, substantially as set forth. a

3. In a separator, the combination, with a U-shaped water-chamber, a reciprocating plunger, a Water-supply pipe, a water-regulating valve, and a material-feeding device, of a perforated diaphragm, a transverse discharge-trough, an elevator that removes the material which passes below the dischargetrough, and a ratchet mechanism which permits the arrest of travel of the elevator at the will of the operator, substantially as set forth.

4. In a separator, the combination, with a water-chamber, a plunger, two draft-rods, and a perforated diaphragm-plate, of two revoluble crank-disks which are pivoted to the draftrods and loosely connected tothe plunger by the draft-rods, substantially as set forth.

5. In a separator, the combination, with a feeding device comprised of a hopper, an adjustable gate and a revoluble roller,a waterchamber, a plunger, and a perforated diaphragm, of a transverse trough for the discharge of light material located to produce a throat for the passage of heavy material under it, an elevator adapted to transfer rejected tor, and mechanism which moves the elevator when the plunger reciprooates and the feedroller revolves, substantially as set forth.

'7. In a separator, the combination, with a water-chamber, a reciprocating plunger,draftpitmen, a feeding device which moves in harmony with the reciprocations' of the plunger, and a perforated diaphragm, of a transverse discharge-trough which removes washed and graded material, an elevator that transfers rejected material which passes below the transverse discharge-trough, and a ratchetand-pawl mechanism that is operated by the plunger-movin g mechanism and actuates, the elevator, substantially as set forth.

8. In a separator, the combination, with a water-chamber, a plunger, and means to reciprocate the plunger, of a material-feeding device, a perforated diaphragm which receives the material fed, a discharge-trough located crosswise of the machine, a discharge-throat having end walls which reduce its length, an elevator, and mechanism connected with the elevator and feeding device which will move the elevator with the feeding device and permit its arrest while the feed movement progresses, substantially as set forth.

9. In a separator, the combination, with a Water-chamber made U shaped and provided with a Water-supply, a discharging watervalve, a crank-shaft, two crank -disks, two pitmen which connect the crank-disks with a plunger, and a plunger, of a perforated diaphragm, a material-feeding device, a transverse discharge trough, a discharge-throat which is contracted endwise by its walls, an elevatonbelt having affixed buckets, and a ratchet-and-pawl feeding device which is adapted to move the elevator in unison with the feeding device and permit arrestof the elevator while the feed movement continues, substantially as set forth.

PETER C. FORRESTER. Witnesses:

CHAS. L. MANsox, CHAS. T. BREHMS. 

